Later in this scene Ophelia is talking to Polonious about how Hamlet has confessed his feelings to her. Polonious tells her not to believe these confessions as Hamlet is lying and will not keep to the promises he has made her. Why is Polonious preventing Ophelia from courting Hamlet? Is it because he knows Hamlet is lying about his love for Ophelia and will hurt her feelings when she finds out the truth or is it because he feels Ophelia is too young and not ready for a relationship? As Hamlet is royalty he is expected to marry Royalty, if
Ophelia and Hamlet were to get married their marriage would not be accepted by others. Can Polonious see this happening and is he trying to protect Ophelia?
In act Two, scene One, Ophelia informs Polonious of Hamlets madness. She tells him that Hamlet came into her room as she was sewing and that he was acting very strangely. Why has she told her father? Is it because she feels afraid of what Hamlet might do to her and her family or is it because she wants to protect Hamlet from coming to any harm as her duty as his friend? Does Ophelia really care for Hamlet or does she fear him and want him out if the Castle?
All four options could be true. I think she has told her Father of Hamlet's madness because she genuinely cares for him and wants to protect him. Ophelia will make the audience question her feelings for Hamlet in this Scene. Shakespeare has used this technique to make the audience feel more involved in the play by getting them to think about how they would feel if they were Ophelia.
Actresses might play this scene very differently to create a variety of effects. One actress might play this scene as if Ophelia were genuinely distressed. Another might play it as if Ophelia was making part of it up and that she was telling her father to spite Hamlet.
These two methods would create a totally different image of Ophelia.
Act Three, scene One sees Claudius, Gertrude, Polonious and Ophelia discussing Hamlet's madness. Gertrude says to Ophelia that she wishes for both Hamlet's and Ophelia's sake that Hamlet may regain his sanity as soon as possible. This shows the audience that the other characters in the play view Ophelia and Hamlet as a couple. Although we are never told that Hamlet and Ophelia are courting we have a deep understanding of their relationship. The way in which the other characters in the play talk of Ophelia and Hamlet gives us the impression that as a woman, she is seen as a way of 'saving' Hamlet.
In this scene we are also told that Ophelia is going to be used as 'bait' to find out the cause of Hamlets madness. This tells us that Gertrude, Claudius and Polonious know that Hamlet can trust Ophelia with his secrets and will confide in her. This tells us that Hamlet and Ophelia have a very close relationship.
Shakespeare has chosen to use Ophelia as the character that Hamlet confides in because she is innocent and whatever Hamlet tells her she will believe. Because of the way Ophelia has been brought up she has learnt not to challenge men whatever the circumstances. If Gertrude had played this role we might not have found out the whole truth about Hamlet madness. The fact that Ophelia has been used tells us that Gertrude questions Hamlets honesty when talking to her. If she felt he was fully honest with her she would have offered to talk to Hamlet herself.
Later in this scene is a very important dialogue between Hamlet and Ophelia. Ophelia says to Hamlet that she has some letters that he has sent her. Hamlet denies sending the letters. He then advises Ophelia to take herself to a nunnery. Shakespeare has created this scene to
make Ophelia look more innocent.
"Get thee to a nunnery" (Hamlet)
Shakespeare is making Ophelia into a stereotypical, innocent, sweet lady through Hamlet assuming that she needs protecting. Ophelia has once again opened up another character so that we can see a different side to them. Without Ophelia in the play would we see this protective side of Hamlet? Or does it make us think that Hamlet would like to see Ophelia hidden away in a Nunnery?
In the midst of the play with all the plotting and scheming going on Ophelia adds contrast to the play. She creates different views of the other characters through her own emotions and feelings. This scene is a good example of both these ideas. Ophelia is portrayed as the most
innocent and honest character in the play, but later in the play we see a side of Ophelia that is different in a sense which makes the other characters and the audience question her innocence and naivety.
In Act Three, Scene Two Hamlet has ordered a group of players to stage a re-construction of the murder of a king. This is to try and make Claudius confess to the murder of King Hamlet. Hamlet uses this chance to talk to Ophelia. He asks her some very intimate questions
"Lady, shall I lie in your lap?"
"Do you think I meant country matters?"
In response to these questions Ophelia acts very innocently.
"Ay my Lord"
"I think nothing my lord"
Ophelia is used to being told what to do and think. When she is asked these questions she looks to Hamlet to tell her what to think. This would make the audience think that the males in the play have authority over the females. This idea would have been accepted in the Shakespearian times but in the modern age this idea would be frowned upon as men and women have equal rights.
A modern audience may see Hamlets actions as a form of sexual abuse. A Shakespearian audience may see his actions as a normal relationship between a man and woman.
In this scene Shakespeare has used language that is very suggestive but Shakespeare has made it more innocent by making Ophelia question what Hamlet means.
Once again Ophelia has added a sense of innocence to the play. She is totally different from the other characters. Hamlet, Gertrude, Claudius, Polonious and Laertes all seem to know what they want from life. Ophelia has a 'floating existence' which cuts her off from the
time boundaries of everyday life. This adds to her sense of innocence. Ophelia seems to have a lack of self respect. She feels that she needs to be told what to do all the time and that her own opinion is not valid. In this scene she says that she 'thinks nothing'. She feels that she needs guidance with her actions so to impress others.
Act Three, Scene Four sees Hamlet attacking his mother in a moment of anger. Although Ophelia isn't actually part of this scene it is relevant to her impact on the play because Hamlets feelings for Ophelia are reflected in how he reacts to women in general. Hamlet may be acting in the manner that he does because he is upset, angry and confused. But why does he take it out on his mother? Hamlet may have taken his anger out on his mother because he doesn't want to hurt
Ophelia.
The language used in this scene is violent and disgusting.
"In the rank sweat of an enseamed bed"
"Oh, shame, where is thy blush?"
"Rebellious Hell"
Hamlet is showing his anger for his Mothers actions. Shakespeare will have used this language to shock his audience into the horror that Hamlet is feeling. In his previous scene with Ophelia he was very loving and caring. He shows a great contrast in these two scenes. This could be because his feelings have changed towards both Ophelia and Gertrude.
In Act Four, Scene Five we are made aware of Ophelia's madness. When she enters the scene she is described as being 'distracted'. When asked how she is she sings a song firstly about the death of her father, then about loosing her virginity. She sings:
"He is dead and gone lady,
He is dead and gone;
At his head a grass-green turf,
At his heels a stone."
"Then up he rose and donned his clothes
And dupped the chamber door;
Let in the maid that out a maid never departed more."
Claudius then says "Pretty Ophelia!" This shows he is disgusted by what Ophelia is singing and that Ophelia is not her usual self. We do not know why Ophelia has gone 'mad', but it seems from her songs that it was caused by her Fathers death and her love for Hamlet. Shakespeare has made Ophelia go 'mad' to show that she also has a darkside as do the other characters in the play. The effect that Shakespeare aimed to have on the audience in this scene was to prove to them that maybe Ophelia wasn't as innocent as she portrayed herself to be.
There is also a moral issue in this scene, Shakespeare has presented Ophelia in such a way that the audience will be made to think that however sweet and innocent a person may be, they all have a breaking point. Hamlet passed his breaking point earlier in the play as he also
went mad.
In Act Four, Scene Seven Gertrude informs Claudius and Laertes of Ophelia's death. Gertrude explains Ophelia's death as an accident: "Clamb'ring to hang on, an envious sliver broke" Ophelia may have committed suicide as she died very soon after her father's death and whilst in a state of madness. Ophelia's 'madness' seems to have started when her father died. Was her father's death the cause of Ophelia's death?
Shakespeare will have deliberately left Ophelia's death with a question mark over whether it was an accident or suicide. He has done this to allow the audience to picture her death as they wanted to.
Ophelia's death is described to Claudius and Laertes as 'mermaid-like'. Shakespeare has used this language to add a sense of calm and peacefulness to Ophelia's death as a dramatic device.
All the way through the play Ophelia has been a calm, quiet character who didn't speak up very often. Her death reflects her attitude towards life; she was very passive and liked to feel she brought a feeling of peace to Elsinore Castle.
The last scene Ophelia is connected with, is her funeral. Hamlet arrives back to Elsinore Castle in time for the funeral. He is shocked by the news of Ophelia's death. Hamlet then expresses his love for Ophelia
"I loved Ophelia; forty thousand brothers could not with all their quantity of love, make up my sum. What wilt thou do for her?"
Shakespeare has shown Ophelia's funeral because throughout the play the audience has become more and more connected to her. It is a way of making them feel part of the play, and feeling the same emotions as the characters.
After reading the play of Hamlet I can see that although Ophelia doesn't play a major role in the story of the play she adds great depth to the dramatic effects. Through her love for Hamlet she adds emotion to the play.
Her contrast of character to the other characters means that the audience will single her out as being different and feel more involved in the play through Ophelia.
Because Ophelia is so innocent other characters use her in different ways. Polonious uses her to display his real character to the audience. Ophelia helps the audience see that Polonious interferes with everyone else's business. Through her love she shows a caring and
loving side of Hamlet but also Shows Hamlet as being aggressive and dismissive.
Ophelia's character helps to make the play of Hamlet realistic, emotional, dramatic and adds a contrast to the play.
